Disposal bag



Dec. 27, 1960 PELFREY ETAL 2,966,294

DISPOSAL BAG Filed Feb. 5, 1959 2 heets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GEORGE G. PELFREY KENNETH A. LENNON ATTORNEY 1960 e. G. PELFREY ET'AL 2,966,294

DISPOSAL BAG Filed Feb. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS GEORGE G. PELF'REY KENNETH A. LEN NONI.

BY LUZ.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Q DISPOSAL BAG George G. Pelfrey, 135 Glenn Place, and Kenneth A.

Lennon, both of Lexington, Ky.; to said Pelfrey said Lennon assignor This invention relates to a new and improved disposal bag and more particularly to a bag type of article which is adapted for sickroom usage. For purposes of disclosure, the article is shown in operative relation to the side of a bed or the like, but it will be understood that it may also be employed in connection with other supports as when used, for example, in automobiles, airplanes, or the like, and when the user is not occupying a recumbent position.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved disposal bag which is inexpensive and expendible and which may be readily attached to and detached from a supporting structure.

Another object is to provide an improved disposal bag especially suitable for emesis and expectoration purposes.

Another object is to provide an improved disposal bag which is collapsible for storage and which may readily be extended into usable condition.

A further object is to provide a liquid proof emesis bag having splash shield and inclined drain portions and with a generous sized open top area.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the article as shown in mounted position along the side of a bed indicated diagrammatically by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the article of Fig. 1 shown mounted along the side of a bed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig 3.

Fig. 5 is a developed form of blank from which the article may be assembled.

Fig. 5A is a view of the article following the first folding step and first sealing step upon the blank.

Fig. 5B is a view of the article following the second folding step and second sealing step, and

Fig. 5C is a view showing the article in collapsed form for storage.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a fiat blank of suitable material cut to a prescribed shape and which, upon assembly and mounting of the bag, will result in a bag having a generally vertically disposed body portion with an open top entrance portion having a floor serving as a drain leading into that body portion. Appropriate bend or fold lines preferably are incorporated into the blank for the purpose of accurately folding the finished bag in collapsed form prior to use. Moreover, a reference bend line in the entrance portion serving as a guide to the mounting of the bag in its extended form is provided and serves to direct the positioning of the body and entrance portions into proper relative locations for subsequent use.

Considering now Fig. 5, a flat blank having generally symmetrical mirror-image configurations lying on each side of the center line thereof, is formed from a 30, 31 and 32, 33.

i 2,966,294 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 suitable material having sufficient rigidity to provide a form sustaining container. Any of various materials may be used for the blank, as for example, liquid-proofed papers, plastics, metallic lined sheets, or the like. The blank preferably is so formed as to have a portion 11 and a corresponding portion 12 serving as side walls of the body portion of the finished bag and cut along the straight bottom edge 13. A generally fan-shaped portion 14 extending between fold lines 15 and 16 and terminating in an arcuate upper edge 17, joins the side wall portions of the bag and serves a significant splash shield purpose later to become apparent. As will be apparent, the unsealed periphery 17 of the open top of the bag is greater than the length of the bottom edge 13 when the bottom of the bag is sealed upon itself, as later to be described. Moreover, the portions 11 and 12 include outer edges 18 and 19, respectively, having an appreciable dimension giving requisite depth to the bag and which dimension may be varied as desired depending upon the volumetric size of bag required. Fold lines 20 and 21 extend, respectively, from the upper ends of the outer edges 18 and 19 to the ends of the arcuate upper edge of the blank while fold lines 22 and 23 extend, respectively, from the lower ends of these outer edges to the ends of that arcuate upper edge.

Extending in prolongation of the outer edges 18 and 19 are fold lines 24 and 25, respectively, and about which the assembled bag may be compactly folded when in collapsed form. For purposes of disclosure, those outer portions of the blank lying outboard of fold lines 24 and 25 cooperatively form what is termed the entrance member of the bag structure. As seen in Fig. 5, the lower edges 26 and 27 of these outer portions extend a substantial distance from and at an obtuse angle with respect to the upper ends of edges 18 and 19. At their extreme ends the edges 26 and 27 are beveled as seen at 28 and 29 and as will later become apparent, the sealing of the two outer portions to each other terminates in the beveled region. Above the thus described beveled edges, the outer portions are provided with inwardly directed notches bounded respectively by edges In their uppermost areas, and above fold lines 34 and 35, these outer portions are shaped as generally triangular tabs 36 and 37 serving as a means for mounting the bag upon a supporting structure. Additional fold lines 38 and 39 extend across these outer portions from the apices of the respective notches to the outer ends of the arcuate edge 17.

As a significant feature, each of the outer portions of that part of the blank forming the entrance member is provided with an interrupted fold line extending normally to the respective lower edges 26 and 27 and as seen at 40 and 41. These interrupted fold lines cooperate with each other to form the reference bend line for the mounting of the assembled bag for use. As will further be seen, these interrupted fold lines are positioned intermediate the point at which the entrance member joins the body of the bag and the top edge of that entrance member.

One side of the blank 10 may be provided with an integral depending sealing flap 42, as shown in dotted lines in Pig. 5 and adapted to' be folded upwardly in sealing relation over the companion portion of the folded blank.

In assembling the improved i P as r m 1 1. $1 scribed blank, that blank is first folded along the center line of Fig. 5 and into the shape shown in Fig. 5A. It then is sealed along its lower edges, including the entire beveled edge 28, thus giving a continuous liquidtight seal at the lower edge of both the body and entrance member of the bag. Following this step, the respective tabs 36 and 37 are then bent along their fold lines 34'and 35 with the tabs disposed on the outside of the assembly and these folded tabs are then further folded along the respective fold lines 38 and 39. Various means may be employed to retain the thus folded tabs in their folded positions and, as seen in Fig. B, an elongated adhesive strip 45 may be afiixed in overlapping relation with tab 36 and the adjacent area of the entrance member, a similar strip 45 being used on the other side of the entrance member to hold the companion tab 37 in folded relation. If desired, glue may be employed in the areas between lines 34, 38 and lines 35, 39 for the same purpose, or, if heat sealable material is used, for the blank, these areas may be heat sealed. In any event, that portion of tabs 36 and37 above the respective fold lines 34 and 35 must be free to move and the seals under the tabs must be sufiiciently strong to hold the weight of the bag and contents during usage of the bag.

Following the described sealing of the tabs in folded position, the bag is ready for use.

However, the bag normally will be packed, shipped and stored between the periods of manufacture and use and, as a feature of the invention, it is adapted to be folded in compact collapsed form. As seen in Fig. 5C, this is accomplished by bending the entrance member rearwardly along fold lines and 21 and along the upwardly extending lines 24 and 25, thus bringing the central lower edge of the entrance member, as represented by edge 26, into extension of edge 18.

Having thus described the manner of assembling the improved bag, reference now is made to Fig. 1 showing one manner of use thereof. When employed in the sickroom, the folded bag of Fig. 5C may be expanded by pulling on the folded tabs and then these tabs may be affixed, as by pins or the like, to the upper surface of the bed sheets or mattress 50. During this positioning of the bag, the reference bend line formed by the two interrupted lines 40 and 41 lies adjacent the upper edge of the bed and establishes the locations at which those tabs are afiixed to the bed. It will further be understood that the bag is so mounted with respect to the users head, that a minimum of movement is required of the user in order to employ the bag.

The entrance member and its function will now be apparent from Fig. 1. As shown, the beveled edges 28 and 29, which abut in sealed relation, serve to form a wall section of a trough-like structure near the users face and this wall extends on both sides of the entrance member as indicated at 51 and 52 and. directs material along the axis of drainage of the floor of the entrance member as represented by fold line 26 (Fig. 3) and into the main body of the bag which is held in a generally vertical direction beyond the edge of the bed.

The edge 18 of the body of that bag meanwhile lies alongside the vertical edge of the bed and the weight of the bag serves to pivot the bag about reference line 40-41 as a fulcrum, thus holding the narrower portion of the entrance member somewhat above the plane of the bed and forming a convenient drain into the bag itself along the fioor of that entrance member.

When thus employed, the entrance member being fulcrumed along line 40-41, lies sufiiciently below the upper edge 17 of the body of the bag and that portion of the bag accordingly serves as a splash shield in the event of a sudden and violent discharge of vomitus or sputum. In addition, the two triangular portions of the entrance member between line 40-41 and the junction of edge 26 with edge 18, serve as a back Wall portion for the body of the bag and give lateral stability to the arti- .4 cle. Other features are further disclosed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The generous size of the entrance member and the open top body of the bag will be seen in Fig. 2, while in Fig. 4 the incline of the trough-like entrance member is apparent. In Fig. 3 the location of the tabs and the seals 42 and 45 during use of the bag, are disclosed.

It will be understood that the material from which the blank is formed will possess an appreciable tear strength and usually the tabs will be fastened in a simple manner, as with safety pins, to the sheet or to the body of the mattress. Suitable apertures may also be provided in these tabs for engaging with fastening means permanently located on the mattress, if such an arrangement is desired. The described disposal bag will normally be destroyed following a single use and thus contributes to the saving of labor on the part of the nurse or other attendant, as well as to improved sanitation of the sickroom.

As many variations may be made of the invention herein described and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment as shown, it is to be understood that this disclosure is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible disposal bag for sick-room usage or the like and comprising a body member having an open top, a liquid-tight bottom and liquid-tight side Walls, the peripheral length of said open top being greater than the length of said bottom thereby to provide for ready entrance of material into said bag, an open top entrance member portion for receiving material and projecting laterally from the top of said body member, said entrance member portion being integral with said body member and including a floor in drainage communication with the interior of said body member, said bag being collapsible along fold lines including a line in said floor of said entrance member portion along the axis of drainage of said floor, and means on said entrance member portion for supporting the bag as an entirety in operative position without requiring the holding of said bag by the user of the same.

2. A bag as described in claim 1, comprising a single sheet of material.

3. A bag as described in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said bag includes a pair of tabs attached to said entrance member portion and spaced from each other or opposite sides of the fold line serving as the axis of drainage of said floor.

4. A bag as described in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the periphery of the open top of said body member extends higher than said entrance member portion, thereby to provide a splash shield for material passing into the interior of said bag.

5. A bag as described in claim 1 wherein said entrance member portion includes upstanding wall portions adapted to prevent material from splashing out of said entrance member portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain July 4, 1939 

